national - Page 8 of 27 - The Rapid City Post

President Donald Trump speaks at a dinner in the Rose Garden of the White House, Friday, Sept. 5, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Trump threatens Chicago with apocalyptic force and Pritzker calls him a ‘wannabe dictator’

September 6, 2025

President Donald Trump is amplifying his promises to dispatch the National Guard to Chicago by posting a parody image from “Apocalypse Now” featuring a ball of flames as helicopters zoom overhead. On Friday, Trump signed an executive order seeking to rename the Defense Department the Department of War. His post Saturday proclaims, “Chicago about to find out why it’s called the Department of WAR.” Trump has threatened Chicago and other Democratic-led cities with crackdowns. Illinois’ Democratic governor, JB Pritzker, responded that Trump “is threatening to go to war with an American city. This is not a joke. This is not normal.” He called the president a “wannabe dictator.”

Demonstrators protest against President Donald Trump's deployment of federal law enforcement and National Guard troops in Washington during a march on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

Thousands protest for a ‘Free DC’ on the fourth week of federal control in Washington

September 6, 2025

Thousands have taken to the streets of Washington, D.C., to protest President Donald Trump’s federal takeover of policing in the nation’s capital. Protesters marched over two miles from Meridian Hill Park to Freedom Plaza near the White House on Saturday to rail against the fourth week of National Guard troops and federal agents patrolling D.C.’s streets. Trump has said the actions were needed to address crime and homelessness, even though city officials have noted that violent crime is lower than it was during Trump’s first term in office. One of the D.C. residents protesting on Saturday called Trump administration’s takeover “evil” and “not for the people.”

FILE - In this imaged released by the Martin County, Fla., Sheriff's Office, law enforcement officers arrest Ryan Routh, the man suspected in the apparent assassination attempt of Donald Trump,Sept. 15, 2024. (Martin County Sheriff's Office via AP, File)

What to know about the trial of the man accused of trying to assassinate Trump in Florida

September 6, 2025

A federal trial begins next week for a man charged with trying to assassinate President Donald Trump as he played golf in Florida. Jury selection is expected to start on Monday and take three days, with opening statements planned for Thursday. The court has blocked off four weeks for the trial, but attorneys are expecting they’ll need less time. U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon agreed in July to let 59-year-old Ryan Routh represent himself. Routh will be allowed to use a podium while speaking to the jury or questioning witnesses, but he will not have free rein of the courtroom. Prosecutors have said Routh methodically plotted to kill Trump for weeks before aiming a rifle through the shrubbery as Trump played golf on Sept. 15, 2024, at his West Palm Beach country club.

This photo taken from video shows, from left, Kenneth Moore Jr, Suelonnee Tingle, Shonnee Hullum, Sage Harrington and Ronnee Tingle, right front, walking to Ronnee Tingle's car after Moore and Suelonnee Tingle were dropped off by an RTA bus after school Wednesday, September 3, 2025 in Dayton, Ohio. (AP Photo/Patrick Aftoora-Orsagos)

Thousands of Ohio students left without a school bus ride as private school transport expands

September 6, 2025

A scramble is underway in Ohio over a staple of the back-to-school season: rides on the big yellow school bus. Public school districts canceled bus transportation for thousands of high schoolers again this year while in some cases still busing students to private and charter schools to avoid steep fines under state requirements. A nationwide bus driver shortage is being compounded by the effects of Ohio’s recent expansion to a universal voucher program to help more kids attend private schools. Districts have been required for years to transport voucher students, but disputes over how to do that are intensifying as the program grows.

FILE - Florida Department of Health Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo speaks during a Patient Freedom news conference on March 5, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara, File)

Florida surgeon general Ladapo’s vaccine mandates opposition goes against medical mainstream

September 5, 2025

Dr. Joseph Ladapo, a Nigerian-born physician with impeccable U.S. medical credentials, says that requiring vaccinations for diseases like measles, polio and chickenpox amounts to government-imposed “slavery.” It’s far from the first time Florida’s surgeon general has cut against the medical establishment grain. Ladapo, an appointee of Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, made worldwide headlines this week by announcing Florida would seek to eliminate all mandated vaccinations for schoolchildren and others. He cast the immunization requirements, which date back decades and are considered a major medical achievement, as improper government intrusion in personal health decisions.

Fabio Fernandez arranges clothes for his residency at Definitive Selection clothing store, one of many businesses in the predominantly Latino neighborhood that has seen a slowdown in foot traffic since President Donald Trump's threats of a federal law enforcement intervention, on Friday, Sept. 5, 2025 in Chicago. (AP Photo/Mark Vancleave)

Chicago’s Mexican Independence Day celebrations shadowed by Trump’s threats for the city

September 5, 2025

President Donald Trump’s plan to dispatch National Guard troops and immigration agents into Chicago has put many Latino residents on edge. Some people are carrying their U.S. passports. Others are considering whether to openly celebrate the upcoming Mexican Independence Day. Vianney Alarcon said she expects people to be targeted regardless of their legal status. But in an act of defiance, she said she’ll be taking part in the festivities, while bringing along her passport. Alejandro Vences became a U.S. citizen this year. He said that gives him some comfort. Still, he said the anxiety is palpable in his heavily Mexican neighborhood of Pilsen.

An electronic sign reads $1.8 billion as crowds wait in line to buy lottery tickets at the Bluebird Liquor store in Hawthorne, Calif., on Friday, Sept. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

Drawing set for a Powerball jackpot that has ballooned to $1.8 billion

September 5, 2025

A Powerball drawing will be held for what would be second highest lottery jackpot on record: an estimated $1.8 billion. Saturday’s prize ballooned after the lottery held more than 40 consecutive drawings without anyone matching all of the game’s six numbers. Whenever a drawing fails to get a winner, the lottery rolls over the winnings until the next drawing. The game’s terrible odds of 1 in 292.2 million are designed to generate big jackpots and ever-larger prizes. There are three drawings each week. The largest jackpot on record, $2.04 billion, was drawn in 2022 and went to a California ticket buyer.

Trump’s job market promises fall flat as hiring collapses and inflation ticks up

September 5, 2025

The U.S. job market has gone from healthy to lethargic during President Donald Trump’s first seven months back in the White House. Friday’s jobs report showed employers added a mere 22,000 jobs in August, as the unemployment rate ticked up to 4.3%. Factories and construction firms shed workers. The new data exposed the widening gap between the booming economy Trump promised and the more anemic reality of what he’s managed to deliver so far. The White House prides itself on operating at a breakneck speed, but it’s now asking the American people for patience, with Trump saying better job numbers might be a year away.

Members of Congress listen as President Donald Trump speaks at a dinner in the Rose Garden of the White House, Friday, Sept. 5, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Trump hosts White House dinner for GOP lawmakers at paved space he dubbed ‘Rose Garden Club’

September 5, 2025

President Donald Trump hosted a dinner Friday night for members of Congress in the newly paved White House Rose Garden, telling them they were the first gathering of what he dubbed the “Rose Garden Club.” The president held a microphone as he addressed about 100 people, mostly House Republicans along with some GOP senators, thanking them for their support of his legislation. After Trump decided to pave over the grassy lawn in the Rose Garden, the White House set up tables, chairs and umbrellas that look strikingly similar to the outdoor setup at his Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida.

CORRECTS TO POOL PHOTO - Maryland Gov. Wes Moore takes selfies with attendees ahead of a Community Walk in northwest Baltimore, Md., on Friday, Sept. 5, 2025. (Ulysses Muñoz/The Baltimore Banner via AP, Pool)

Maryland leaders tell Trump they don’t need the National Guard to curb gun violence

September 5, 2025

In a pointed show of solidarity against President Donald Trump, state and local leaders walked through one of Baltimore’s most historically underserved neighborhoods amid ongoing efforts to curb gun violence. They were sending a clear message to Trump that the last thing they need is the National Guard deployment he has threatened. Homicides in Baltimore have reached historic lows with sustained declines starting in 2023. Officials attribute the progress to their crime-fighting strategies, which include social services meant to address the root causes of violence.

This year’s song of the summer is a ballad, not a banger. Here’s what that says about us

September 5, 2025

Every summer, one song emerges as the inescapable summer anthem. It’s a phenomenon so reliable it’s earned its own term in the media zeitgeist. But this year, the typical song of the summer seems to have gone missing. In its place is the slow, romantic ballad “Ordinary” by Alex Warren. But why? Listeners are gravitating toward nostalgia, favoring older hits from the “recession pop” era and streaming fewer new releases. Experts also suggest the appeal of “Ordinary” reflects the state of the world and the well-being of listeners in general.

Attorney General Pam Bondi speaks during a human smuggling news conference Thursday Sept. 4, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Justice Department talks about banning transgender gun owners spark fury across political spectrum

September 5, 2025

The Justice Department is drawing swift condemnation from gun rights groups and LGBTQ advocates alike after floating that it was considering restricting transgender people from owning guns — a move that would all but certainly face immediate constitutional challenges if ever implemented. The discussions come in the wake of the shooting at a Minneapolis Catholic school that federal officials have said was carried out by a transgender shooter, according to a person familiar with the matter. The person, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations, cautioned that the talks were in the early stages and no proposal has been finalized.

The Presidents of Latvia Edgars Rinkevics, 1st left, Lithuania President Gitanas Nausėda, second left, Estonia President Alar Karis, and the Prime Minister of Denmark Mette Frederiksen, right, pose at a meeting with Polish President Karol Nawrocki, center, in Warsaw, Poland, Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)

European countries near Russia puzzled by US plans to cut defense funding

September 5, 2025

Confusion has emerged over Trump administration plans to halt some security assistance funding to European countries along the border with Russia. Some Baltic defense leaders say they haven’t received official notification. A person familiar with the discussions and a congressional aide say Pentagon funding for programs that provide training and equipment to reinforce security is being cut. It wasn’t clear exactly how much funding would be affected, though it could be hundreds of millions of dollars. A White House official said the action has been coordinated with European countries and is part of President Donald Trump’s plan to ensure “Europe takes more responsibility for its own defense.”

FILE - Joseph David Emerson, back, appears in Multnomah County Circuit Court for an indictment hearing in Portland, Ore., on Dec. 7, 2023. (Dave Killen/The Oregonian via AP, Pool, File)

Ex-Alaska Airlines pilot who tried to cut a flight’s engines pleads guilty

September 5, 2025

A former Alaska Airlines pilot who tried to cut the engines of a passenger flight in 2023 has pleaded guilty or no-contest to all charges against him. Joseph Emerson was riding in an extra seat in the cockpit of a Horizon Air flight from Everett, Washington, to San Francisco and was subdued by the crew. The plane landed safely in Oregon. Emerson appeared in state and federal court in Oregon on Friday to enter the pleas. His attorney says Emerson reached plea agreements to take responsibility and he hopes to avoid further time behind bars. Emerson told police he’d taken psychedelic mushrooms two days earlier and hadn’t slept in over 40 hours.

Washington Metropolitan Police officers and military police soldiers with the District of Columbia National Guard watch as activists protest President Donald Trump's federal takeover of policing of the District of Columbia, Saturday, Aug. 16, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Congress is expected to allow Trump’s takeover of DC police to expire

September 5, 2025

Congress is expected to allow President Donald Trump’s temporary takeover of Washington’s police department to expire next week as the 30 day limit comes to an end. Trump took control of the Metropolitan Police Department in August for 30 days in addition to deploying hundreds of National Guard troops, saying he was going to “take our capital back” from criminals. Congress would have to approve an extension, and Republicans on Capitol Hill have no plans to do so in the next week. Mayor Muriel Bowser has said the city will continue to coordinate with federal law enforcement.

FILE - Vice President of Equatorial Guinea, Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue, addresses the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Sept. 26, 2024, at U.N. headquarters. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II, File)

US set to ease travel restrictions on African leader accused of corruption

September 5, 2025

The Trump administration is set to allow a West African leader accused of flagrant corruption to travel to the United States for this month’s U.N. General Assembly and cities outside New York that he has previously been barred from visiting. Two officials familiar with the matter said the State Department is processing a temporary sanctions waiver for the vice president of Equatorial Guinea, Teodoro “Teddy” Obiang, following recommendations that it is in the U.S. national interest to blunt growing Chinese influence in the country and boost American business interests there. Obiang has been accused, and in some cases convicted, of pilfering his impoverished country’s resources to feed a lifestyle of luxury cars, mansions and superyachts.

FILE - Hagi Abucar places flowers for his former coworker Lindsey Herkness on the south reflecting pool during the 9/11 Memorial ceremony on the 23rd anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, Sept. 11, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura, File)

Trump seeking ways to take over 9/11 memorial in NYC

September 5, 2025

President Donald Trump’s administration says it’s looking at ways the federal government can assume operation of the 9/11 memorial in New York City. The White House on Friday said the administration has had “preliminary exploratory discussions” about the idea but declined to elaborate. The office noted that the Republican pledged during his campaign last year to make ground zero a national monument. Beth Hillman, president and CEO of the National September 11 Memorial & Museum, says the idea of the government taking on the costs “makes no sense” as the Trump administration pares back federal spending. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul was also critical of the idea.

President Donald Trump shakes hands with Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth watches in the Oval Office of the White House, Friday, Sept. 5, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Trump’s push to change Department of Defense to ‘War Department’ would turn back the clock to WWII

September 5, 2025

President Donald Trump’s push to rename the Department of Defense goes beyond subjective word choices about what to call the military agency. He argues that the historical name – the War Department – better reflects the bottom-line mission. But the idea also would continue Trump’s rejection of the international order established after World War II. Congressional action is still required. The original War Department name traces back to the first Congress after the Constitution was ratified. It carried through the War of 1812, the Civil War and two world wars. After World War II, Congress renamed the Pentagon agency “the Department of Defense,” and U.S. foreign policy and military rhetoric shifted to talking about “peace through strength.”

FILE - U.S. Border Patrol agent David Maland is recognized with military honors before his burial at Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis on Feb. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr, File)

Zizians group member pleads not guilty to murder and other charges in Vermont border agent’s death

September 5, 2025

A woman accused of killing a U.S. Border Patrol agent in Vermont has made her first court appearance since prosecutors said they will seek the death penalty against her. Teresa Youngblut, a member of the cultlike Zizians group, pleaded not guilty Friday to murder and other charges. She is accused of killing U.S. Border Patrol agent David Maland in Vermont in January. New indictments last month made her eligible for the death penalty, and the U.S. Justice Department said it would seek it as part of the Trump administration’s push for more federal executions. Authorities had been monitoring Youngblut and her companion, Felix Bauckholt, before the shooting on Interstate 91. Bauckholt was killed, and Youngblut was wounded.

President Donald Trump speaks in the Oval Office of the White House, Friday, Sept. 5, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Trump signs order to designate nations that hold Americans as sponsors of wrongful detention

September 5, 2025

President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Friday that would let the U.S. designate nations as state sponsors of wrongful detention, using the threat of associated sanctions to deter Americans from being detained abroad or taken hostage. The designation, similar to state sponsors of terrorism designation that the U.S. imposes, allow the State Department to target countries falling under the label with penalties such as economic restrictions, restrictions on visas for those involved and travel restrictions for Americans to those countries.

Neurosurgeon says there are ‘rays of hope’ for girl critically hurt in Minneapolis church shooting

September 5, 2025

A neurosurgeon says there are “rays of hope” for a 12-year-old girl critically injured in a Minneapolis church shooting. Sophia Forchas was among the most seriously wounded when a shooter opened fire at the Church of the Annunciation on Aug. 27. Two students were killed, and 21 people were injured. Sophia remains in intensive care with a bullet lodged in her brain. Her doctor says her young brain’s ability to heal offers hope. On Friday, students across Minnesota and other U.S. cities staged walkouts, demanding lawmakers ban assault weapons. Sophia’s father expressed gratitude for global prayers and support.

U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro walks outside the White House, Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

Prosecutors drop federal case against woman accused of threatening to kill Trump

September 5, 2025

Justice Department prosecutors are dropping their federal case against a woman who was charged with threatening to kill President Donald Trump. It’s the latest in a string of self-inflicted setbacks for prosecutors during Trump’s law-enforcement surge in the nation’s capital. A grand jury refused to indict Nathalie Rose Jones before U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro’s office asked a judge on Friday to dismiss her case in district court. A one-page court filing by Pirro’s office says dismissing the case against Jones “is in the interests of justice,” but it doesn’t elaborate.

Music Review: Justin Bieber has more to say about love on ‘Swag ll’

September 5, 2025

If it wasn’t clocking to you before, it should be now. Justin Bieber is doing whatever he wants. Friday’s “Swag ll” follows the July release of “Swag.” In a review, The Associated Press music writer Maria Sherman says “Swag ll” is an obvious companion piece, not only in name but also in sound, theme and zeal. Collaborators repeat. There are songs about his wife and references to his religion. But Sherman says there is also a kind of lightness to “Swag ll.” That is likely because Bieber spends less time considering how he is depicted in the media on this release. Sift and find gold.

President Donald Trump, right, shakes the hand of Russia's President Vladimir Putin during a joint press conference at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, Friday, Aug. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

US and EU plan to discuss new Russia sanctions: What could be next for Putin?

September 5, 2025

European officials, led by EU sanctions envoy David O’Sullivan, plan to visit the U.S. Treasury Department on Monday to discuss economic pressure on Russia, including new sanctions. A person familiar with the matter told The Associated Press about the meeting. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent spoke with European Commission head Ursula von der Leyen on Friday to prepare. White House, State Department and Trade Representative officials are expected to participate. The meeting comes as President Donald Trump has grown increasingly frustrated by his inability to end the 3 1/2-year Russian war in Ukraine.

FCC taking steps that would allow US prisons to jam prisoners’ cellphone signals

September 5, 2025

Federal officials are moving a step closer to allowing state and federal prisons to jam cellphone signals from devices smuggled to inmates. Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr on Friday announced the agency’s plan to vote on September 30th to lift a restriction that currently prohibits signal jamming in prisons. Officials argue that smuggled phones enable prisoners to plot violence and run criminal enterprises. The debate has been ongoing for years, with prison directors saying the smuggled devices are dangerous because they allow inmates to continue committing crimes from behind bars.

Members of the District of Columbia National Guard standing next to an MATV vehicle scan the area as they patrol outside Union Station, Monday, Sept. 1, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

Georgia sends troops to DC in sign that Trump’s policing push will continue

September 5, 2025

Georgia is becoming the eighth state to send National Guard troops to Washington, D.C., to support President Donald Trump’s law enforcement operation in the capital. Republican Gov. Brian Kemp said Friday that most troops would deploy later this month to relieve guard members from elsewhere. The District of Columbia is challenging Trump’s use of the National Guard as an illegal use of the military for domestic law enforcement. The White House says the deployment is within Trump’s authority. Kemp earlier mobilized 75 Georgia National Guard members to support immigration enforcement in Georgia. Those soldiers won’t be making arrests. Georgia is one of 11 states where the guard will be helping ICE.

FILE - Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., speaks during the confirmation hearing for Kash Patel, at the Capitol in Washington, Jan. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis, File)

National conservatism asserts its dominance in Trump’s Washington

September 5, 2025

National conservatism is reshaping the Republican Party in President Donald Trump’s second term. This week, its leaders gathered in Washington to celebrate their rise and lay out their next steps. Missouri Sen. Eric Schmitt delivered a speech titled “What is an American?” in which he criticized some legal immigration and declared, “America doesn’t belong to them — it belongs to us.” The conference featured top Trump officials, GOP lawmakers and right-wing figures. Panels focused on Christian identity, immigration and reversing same-sex marriage rights. Once seen as fringe, the movement now claims influence at the highest levels and shows no signs of slowing.

FILE - Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry speaks to reporters outside "Camp 57," a facility to house immigration detainees at the Louisiana State Penitentiary in Angola, La., Wednesday, with Attorney General Pam Bondi, , left, and ICE Deputy Director Madison Sheahan, partially visible right, Sept. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert, File)

Louisiana governor pays fine and discloses $13K in unreported free trips in deal to end ethics probe

September 5, 2025

Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry has agreed to pay a $900 fine for failing to disclose a free trip to Hawaii and other complimentary trips while serving as the state’s attorney general. He also revealed he has accepted nearly 20 complimentary trips worth more than $13,000 since 2021. The settlement Landry reached Friday with the state ethics board ends a yearslong ethics investigation against the Republican governor. In reaching the settlement, Landry avoids having a panel of judges rule on whether he violated state law, which could have led to financial penalties exceeding $10,000 for each violation. Landry has overhauled the state ethics board since becoming governor in 2024.

Amy Allen poses with the award for songwriter of the year, non-classical during the 67th annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles on Feb. 2, 2025, left, Julia Michaels appears at the 67th annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles on Feb. 2, 2025, center, and Sebastian Kole appears at the 66th annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles on Feb. 4, 2024. (AP Photo)

Long in the shadows, a new generation of songwriters gain recognition and success as artists

September 5, 2025

A new generation of songwriters are stepping into the spotlight, gaining recognition alongside the artists they write for. In recent years, figures like Muni Long and Julia Michaels have emerged as successful performers in their own right. This shift is partly due to fans’ growing interest in the creators behind their favorite songs. Platforms like TikTok and artists acknowledging their collaborators have also played a role. Songwriters are releasing music under their own names, seeking creative autonomy and financial benefits. Despite challenges, this trend highlights a new era where songwriters are celebrated for their talents, so says Amy Allen, Julia Michaels and PYNK BEARD.

Students build a dragon out of LEGO bricks during class at Lively Elementary on Thursday, Aug. 21, 2025, in Irving, Texas. (AP Photo/Ronaldo Bolaños)

The gender gap in math widened in the pandemic. Schools are trying to make up lost ground

September 5, 2025

Efforts to close the gender gap in STEM education are gaining momentum after setbacks during the COVID-19 pandemic. Nationwide, the gap between girls and boys in math test scores had largely closed before the pandemic. But girls lost ground in math test scores during COVID. And the gap has continued to widen. Boys have recovered faster in math since the pandemic, partly due to teaching methods that experts say may favor them. Schools are now working to reintroduce programs that boost girls’ confidence and interest in STEM, aiming to rebuild progress lost during the pandemic.

Students of St. John Berchmans' school hold items often linked to Blessed Carlo Acutis, who will be canonized a saint by Pope Leo XIV, before Mass at Blessed Carlo Acutis Parish, on Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Jessie Wardarski)

Carlo Acutis, the saint next door: A teen computer whiz becomes a millennial saint

September 4, 2025

Pope Leo XIV will preside over his first canonization ceremony Sunday to create the first millennial saint. Carlo Acutis has shot to near rockstar-like fame among many young Catholics, generating a global following the likes of which the Catholic Church hasn’t seen in ages. Much of that popularity is thanks to a concerted campaign by the Vatican to give the next generation of faithful a relatable, modern-day role model, who used his technological talents to spread the faith. For his admirers, Acutis is the saint next door, an ordinary kid who did extraordinary things.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks during a joint news conference with Ecuador's Foreign Minister Gabriela Sommerfeld at the Palacio de Carondelet, in Quito, Ecuador, Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, Pool)

A deadly strike marks a moment in Rubio’s long desire to confront Venezuela

September 4, 2025

The deadly strike on a boat U.S. officials say was carrying drugs from Venezuela may have marked a stunning shift, but escalating pressure on the South American country has defined much of Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s quarter-century in politics. He sees the South American country as a vestige of the communist ideology in the Western Hemisphere. President Donald Trump’s top diplomat has consistently pushed to oust its leader, Nicolás Maduro, advocated for sanctions and even argued for military intervention. While Trump has promised no more foreign wars, Rubio and other administration officials have warned of more operations against drug traffickers in Latin America, a shift Rubio has long sought.

Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr., appears before the Senate Finance Committee, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

Operation Warp Speed was one of Trump’s biggest achievements. Then came RFK Jr. and vaccine skeptics

September 4, 2025

President Donald Trump launched Operation Warp Speed during the COVID-19 pandemic, and, as recently as last week, praised it as a major achievement. However, Trump’s handpicked health secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and a growing cadre of Trump’s “Make America Great Again” supporters are distrustful of the very mRNA vaccine technology that the president has championed. At a congressional hearing Thursday, Kennedy came under fire for his work to restrict access to vaccines, including the COVID-19 shots touted by his boss. Highlighting the divide was that much of the praise of Trump’s efforts to find a vaccine for COVID-19 came Thursday from Democrats.

National Capital Planning Commission Chairman Will Scharf presides over a National Capital Planning Commission meeting, Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr.)

Demolition for new White House ballroom doesn’t need approval, Trump-appointed commission head says

September 4, 2025

The head of the National Capital Planning Commission says crews can start demolishing parts of the White House for a new ballroom without needing approval. Will Scharf, appointed by President Trump in July, said Thursday that the commission doesn’t have jurisdiction over demolition and site preparation work on federal property. Crews have begun preparing to build a $200 million ballroom, which will likely change the East and West Wings. Scharf dismissed the need for early commission oversight, and praised the project. He also criticized the Federal Reserve for renovations to its building that have gone over budget, an issue Trump himself has been sharply critical of.

FILE - The UN flag flies on a stormy day at the United Nations during the United Nations General Assembly on Sept. 22, 2022. (AP Photo/Ted Shaffrey, File)

US considers banning Iranians from shopping at Costco during UN meeting

September 4, 2025

The Trump administration has already denied visas for Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas and his large delegation to attend the U.N. General Assembly later this month. It is now considering ramping up restrictions on several other delegations that would severely limit their ability to travel inside New York City. Potential travel and other restrictions could soon be imposed on the delegations from Iran, Sudan, Zimbabwe and, perhaps surprisingly, Brazil, which has held a traditional place of honor during the high-level leaders week during the General Assembly that begins Sept. 22. One proposal being floated would bar Iranians from shopping at stores like Costco and Sam’s Club without first receiving the express permission of the State Department.

A group of FBI agents leave former national security adviser John Bolton's house where FBI searched the home, Friday, Aug. 22, 2025, in Bethesda, Md. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

FBI seized phones, computer equipment, folders during search of Bolton’s home, records show

September 4, 2025

The FBI seized phones, computer equipment and typed documents from the home of John Bolton as part of an investigation into whether President Donald Trump’s first-term national security adviser mishandled government secrets. That’s according to court records unsealed Thursday. The criminal investigation burst into view last month when agents searched Bolton’s home in Bethesda, Maryland, and his office in Washington. A person familiar with the matter told The Associated Press at the time that the investigation concerned allegations of the potential mishandling of classified information. No charges have been filed.

Donna Adelson listens to her defense team's opening statements in the courtroom on Friday, Aug. 22, 2025 in Tallahassee, Fla. (Alicia Devine/Tallahassee Democrat via AP, Pool)

Jury convicts Florida matriarch in murder-for-hire killing of her former son-in-law

September 4, 2025

A jury has convicted the matriarch of a wealthy South Florida family in the hired killing of her former son-in-law, a prominent law professor. Donna Adelson was convicted of first-degree murder, conspiracy and solicitation in the 2014 death of Florida State University law professor Daniel Markel. Markel was gunned down in Tallahassee, where he taught law, amid a bitter child custody battle with his ex-wife. Prosecutors said the family matriarch had helped orchestrate the killing after Markel stood in the way of letting her daughter, Markel’s ex-wife, and two young grandsons relocate to South Florida to be closer to the rest of her family. The ex-wife has denied involvement in the killing and has not been charged.

Ruth Paine, who opened her Texas home to Lee Harvey Oswald and shooed away conspiracies, dead at 92

September 4, 2025

Ruth Paine, whose kindness to Lee Harvey Oswald and his wife as a young mother near Dallas would leave her inexorably linked to the 1963 assassination of President John F. Kennedy, has died. She was 92. Tamarin Laurel-Paine said Thursday that her mother died on Sunday in a senior living facility in Santa Rosa, California. Oswald’s wife and children had been staying at Paine’s home in the Dallas of suburb of Irving in the fall of 1963, and the morning of the assassination Oswald retrieved the rifle he had — unbeknownst to Paine — been stowing in her garage.

FILE - A sign supporting citizenship for American Samoans is posted outside the Log Cabin Gifts store on the waterfront in Whittier, Alaska, May 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen, File)

10 Alaskans born in American Samoa plead not guilty in voting case highlighting citizenship issues

September 4, 2025

Ten Alaska residents pleaded not guilty to voter misconduct or other charges. Their cases have drawn renewed attention to the complex citizenship status for people born in the U.S. territory of American Samoa. All live in the Alaska community of Whittier. The state contends they falsely claimed U.S. citizenship when registering or attempting to vote. The Pacific Community of Alaska, an advocacy group, has pleaded their cases to the state’s attorney general. The group contends local and state officials have at times been confused about the law and given incorrect information about voting to American Samoans. The group also said the state did not perform due diligence in determining citizenship status before pursuing charges.

Ex-pilot accused of trying to cut a passenger flight’s engines reaches plea deals, his lawyer says

September 4, 2025

A former Alaska Airlines pilot accused of trying to cut the engines of a passenger flight in 2023 has reached plea deals with federal and state prosecutors. Joseph Emerson was riding in an extra seat in the cockpit of a Horizon Air flight from Everett, Washington, to San Francisco and was subdued by the crew. The plane landed safely in Portland, Oregon. Court records show Emerson is due to appear in state and federal court in Oregon on Friday. His attorney says Emerson reached plea agreements with prosecutors to take responsibility for his actions and in hopes of avoiding further time behind bars.

FILE - Joseph McNeil speaks during a AFL-CIO conference in Greensboro, N.C., Jan. 16, 2010. (AP Photo/Lynn Hey, File)

Joseph McNeil, who helped spark a protest movement at a North Carolina lunch counter, dies at 83

September 4, 2025

Joseph McNeil, a key figure in the civil rights movement, has died at 83. McNeil was one of four students who staged a sit-in at a segregated Woolworth’s lunch counter in Greensboro, North Carolina, in 1960. This act sparked similar nonviolent protests across the South. McNeil later became a two-star general. North Carolina A&T State University and his family announced his death on Thursday. McNeil had faced recent health challenges. The university’s chancellor said McNeil and his classmates had inspired the nation with their courageous, peaceful protest. Only one of the four protesters is now alive.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth speaks at an event with President Donald Trump on the relocation of U.S. Space Command headquarters from Colorado to Alabama in the Oval Office of the White House, Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

Trump will seek ‘Department of War’ rebrand for Pentagon

September 4, 2025

President Donald Trump plans to sign an executive order to rebrand the Department of Defense as the Department of War. This move is part of his effort to project a tougher image for America’s military. Trump cannot formally change the name without legislation, which his administration will request from Congress. In the meantime, the Pentagon will use “secondary titles” to go by its original name. The Department of War was created in 1789 and renamed in 1947. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has hinted at the change, and Trump believes Congress will support the move if needed.

FILE - Former President Joe Biden speaks during the National Bar Association's 100th Annual Awards Gala in Chicago, July 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh, File)

Joe Biden undergoes surgery to remove skin cancer on forehead

September 4, 2025

Joe Biden recently underwent surgery to remove skin cancer lesions. A spokesperson for the former president on Thursday confirmed the procedure after Inside Edition published a video showing Biden with a fresh scar on his forehead. Biden received Mohs surgery, which removes skin until no cancer remains. Two years ago, while in office, he had a basal cell carcinoma lesion removed from his chest. In May, Biden’s office announced he had been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer. The Biden family has faced cancer repeatedly, including the loss of his son Beau to a brain tumor.

Frontiersman Sports owner Kory Krause recounts Robin Westman's visit to his store during an interview, Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025, in St. Louis Park, Minn. (AP Photo/Mark Vancleave)

Gun store owner says shooter who killed 2 schoolchildren showed no warning signs before attack

September 4, 2025

The shooter who killed two children and injured 21 others at a Minneapolis church was seen on video visiting a suburban gun shop the weekend before the attack. The video shows Robin Westman spent about 40 minutes examining guns and bought a revolver at the store in St. Louis Park. Owner Kory Krause told The Associated Press on Thursday that Westman passed background checks and had a valid permit. The gun Westman purchased wasn’t one of the guns used in the shooting. Krause says his staff is experienced in looking for warning signs but saw none.

People wait for loved ones from Guatemala deported from the United States outside La Aurora International Airport, in Guatemala City, Sunday, Aug. 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)

Chaotic showdown over Guatemalan children exposes fault lines in Trump’s deportation push

September 4, 2025

A reconstruction of the aborted deportation of dozens of Guatemalan children on Labor Day weekend illuminates the latest clash between the administration’s desire for mass deportations and longstanding legal protections for migrants. A middle-of-the-night call to a judge allowed attorneys to block the flights for two weeks, but the episode has raised questions about how truthful the administration was in its initial accounts. A Guatemalan government report obtained by The Associated Press says that investigators found families for 115 children, nearly all who said they wanted their children to remain in the U.S. or refused to cooperate with investigators. That undercuts the administration’s account.

FILE - A sign is displayed on a Google building at their campus in Mountain View, Calif., Sept. 24, 2019. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu, File)

Google facing $425.7 million in damages for nearly a decade of improper smartphone snooping

September 4, 2025

A federal jury has ordered Google to pay $425.7 million for improperly snooping on people’s smartphones during a nearly decade-long period of intrusions. The verdict reached Wednesday in San Francisco federal court followed a more than two-week trial in a class-action case covering about 98 million smartphones operating in the United States between July 1, 2016, through Sept. 23, 2024. Google had denied that it was improperly tracking the online activity of people who thought they had shielded themselves on privacy controls and says it will now appeal the jury’s verdict.

FILE - Porcha Woodruff poses for a portrait on Aug. 7, 2023, in Oak Park, Mich. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio, File)

Woman wrongly accused of carjacking loses lawsuit against Detroit police who used facial tech

September 4, 2025

A judge has dismissed a lawsuit against Detroit police in the wrongful arrest of a pregnant woman who was charged with carjacking partly because of facial recognition technology. Porcha Woodruff spent hours in jail after she was arrested at her home in 2023. Police admitted she was the wrong suspect, and charges were eventually dropped. Federal Judge Judith Levy says Woodruff’s arrest and time in jail “are troubling for many reasons.” But she dismissed a civil rights lawsuit against the officer who prepared the arrest warrant, saying Woodruff’s lawyer didn’t show that the officer lacked probable cause.

FILE - New York Attorney General Letitia James speaks during a news conference outside Manhattan federal court in New York, Feb. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura, File)

New York attorney general asks court to reinstate President Trump’s massive civil fraud penalty

September 4, 2025

New York’s attorney general is moving to have the state’s highest court reinstate President Donald Trump’s staggering civil fraud penalty. Attorney General Letitia James on Thursday appealed a lower-court decision that slashed the potential half-billion-dollar fine to $0. James’ office filed a notice of appeal with the state’s Court of Appeals, seeking to reverse the mid-level Appellate Division’s ruling last month that the penalty violated the U.S. Constitution’s ban on excessive fines. James, a Democrat, had previously said she would appeal. Trump, a Republican, filed his own appeal last week. He’s asking the Court of Appeals to throw out business-related punishments that the Appellate Division left in place.

‘Legend dairy’ man carries ice cream and dry ice up Colorado peak as treat for other hikers

September 4, 2025

Hikers who climbed one of Colorado’s tallest mountains got more than a sweeping view at the top. A man in an ice cream costume was handing out frozen treats. No one seemed to know the man who carried the ice cream sandwiches and bars and dry ice up Huron Peak over the Labor Day weekend. But word of him spread quickly to hikers still making their way up the more than 14,000-foot peak. Photos on social media show hikers with broad smiles posing with the man, who was sitting in a camping chair and wearing sunglasses with a fake mustache. Some called him a hero. One called him “legend dairy.”

FILE - The Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America is seen on March 26, 2025, in Ellabell, Ga. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart, File)

US immigration officers raid Georgia site where Hyundai makes electric vehicles

September 4, 2025

Immigration agents are conducting a raid at the sprawling industrial site where Hyundai makes electric vehicles in southeast Georgia. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokesman Lindsay Williams said the operation Thursday focused on the site where construction workers are building a separate factory for making batteries that power EVs. The Department of Homeland Security said it executed a search warrant as part of an investigation into possible illegal employment activities. Georgia State Patrol troopers blocked roads leading to the plant. The Georgia Department of Public Safety said the troopers were assisting as federal authorities. A spokesperson for Hyundai’s vehicle factory said work there was uninterrupted.

FILE - Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan leaves the federal courthouse after a hearing in Milwaukee, May 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Andy Manis, File)

Immigrant pleads guilty to being in US illegally after judge allegedly helped him evade agents

September 4, 2025

An immigrant who was arrested after a Milwaukee judge allegedly helped him evade federal agents has pleaded guilty to being in the U.S. illegally. Online court records indicate Eduardo Flores-Ruiz entered the plea Thursday in federal court in Milwaukee. He faces up to two years in prison. According to federal prosecutors, U.S. immigration agents planned to arrest Flores-Ruiz when he appeared at the Milwaukee County courthouse in April for a hearing in a battery case. They say Judge Hannah Dugan escorted Flores-Ruiz through a back door after learning agents were looking for him. Dugan faces obstruction charges.

Attorney General Pam Bondi speaks as U.S. Attorney of Middle District of Florida Gregory W. Kehoe, left, watches during a human smuggling news conference Thursday Sept. 4, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Justice Department ramping up efforts to target human smuggling at the northern US border

September 4, 2025

The U.S. Justice Department is ramping up efforts to target human smuggling operations exploiting America’s northern border, citing growing concerns about sophisticated criminal networks transporting migrants for profit, expanding their focus beyond the southern border. The expansion of Joint Task Force Alpha is aimed at cracking down on smuggling operations often linked to cartels that can expose migrants to exploitation and abuse. In one recently charged case, authorities allege children were given THC-laced candy in order to sedate them as they were being taken across the border.

FILE - Pharmacist Kenni Clark injects Robert Champion, of Lawrence, Mass., with a booster dosage of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine during a vaccination clinic at City of Lawrence's "The Center," Dec. 29, 2021, in Lawrence, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, File)

Massachusetts state health insurers to be required to cover vaccines, regardless of CDC guidance

September 4, 2025

Massachusetts insurance carriers will be required to cover vaccinations recommended by the state’s department of public health. Democratic Gov. Maura Healey announced the move Thursday, saying the coverage will be required whether or not those vaccines continue to be recommended by the federal government. The announcement comes after Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s extensive restructuring and downsizing of the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. For decades, the CDC has set the nation’s standards on vaccines. The recommendations were guidance, not law. But they were automatically adopted by doctors, school systems, health insurers and others.

FILE - The Supreme Court Building is seen in Washington on March 28, 2017. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)

Trump administration asks Supreme Court to let him fire member of Federal Trade Commission

September 4, 2025

The Trump administration is asking the Supreme Court Thursday to let the president fire a member of the Federal Trade Commission, the latest in a string of emergency petitions over the president’s removal power. President Donald Trump first moved to fire Rebecca Slaughter in the spring, but lower courts ordered her reinstated because the law only allows commissioners to be removed for problems like misconduct or neglect of duty. The Justice Department, though, argues that the FTC and other executive branch agencies are under Trump’s control and the president is free to remove commissioners without cause. The justices have allowed the firings of several other board members on of independent agencies already.

FILE - U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro speaks during a news conference, Aug. 12, 2025, at the U.S. Attorney's office in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File)

Judge upbraids prosecutors for handling of DC surge cases, saying they have ‘no credibility left’

September 4, 2025

A federal magistrate judge has angrily accused top Justice Department prosecutors of trampling on the civil rights of people arrested during President Donald Trump’s law-enforcement surge in the nation’s capital. Judge Zia Faruqui said Thursday that leaders of U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro’s office have tarnished its reputation with how they are handling the cases. He said Pirro’s office is routinely bringing cases that don’t belong in federal court and needlessly keeping people in jail for days while they evaluate cases. He made his remarks during a hearing at which he agreed to dismiss the federal case against a man accused of threatening to kill Trump while in police custody.

FILE - A home burns in the Eaton Fire in Altadena, Calif., Jan. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Nic Coury, File)

Federal government sues California utility, alleging equipment sparked deadly wildfires

September 4, 2025

The federal government has filed two lawsuits against Southern California Edison, alleging the utility’s equipment sparked fires in the Los Angeles area that destroyed thousands of structures and killed 17 people. The lawsuits were filed Thursday and included claims for the Eaton Fire. They allege that Edison failed to properly maintain its power and transmission infrastructure and seeks more than $40 million in damages. A second lawsuit alleges that a sagging power line sparked another fire in September 2022, scorching thousands of acres of forest land. Edison spokesperson Jeff Monford said they are reviewing the lawsuits.

FILE - Several VISA and MASTER credit cards are shown in Buffalo Grove, Ill., Thursday, Feb. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh, File)

Americans would save $100B if credit card rates were capped as Trump proposed, researchers say

September 4, 2025

A new paper from Vanderbilt University suggests Americans could save about $100 billion annually if credit card interest rates were capped at 10%, as proposed by President Donald Trump. The study indicates banks could still remain profitable even with such a cap. The paper found banks could earn profits with a 15% cap while maintaining rewards programs. Trump proposed the cap during the 2024 election, but hasn’t mentioned it since. However, politicians like Sen. Josh Hawley and Sen. Bernie Sanders have introduced similar bills. The banking industry strongly opposes rate caps, arguing they could harm business models.

Victims and relatives of the October 2023 mass shooting attend a news conference, Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025, in Lewiston, Maine. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)

Survivors of Maine mass shooting and victims’ relatives sue US government alleging negligence

September 4, 2025

More than 100 survivors and relatives of victims of Maine’s deadliest mass shooting are suing the federal government. They allege the U.S. Army could have stopped one of its reservists from carrying out the attack that killed 18 people at a bowling alley and a bar in October 2023. An independent commission previously said it found numerous opportunities for intervention by Army officials and civilian law enforcement. The lawsuit accuses the U.S. government of negligence. Attorneys plan to provide more details Wednesday at a news conference in Lewiston, Maine. Spokespeople for the Department of Defense and the Army say they would not comment on pending litigation.

FACT FOCUS: DeSantis’ misleading claims about why Florida missed out on a congressional seat

September 3, 2025

Gov. Ron DeSantis claims the 2020 census numbers for Florida need fixing to grant the state another congressional seat. He blames the U.S. Census Bureau for shortchanging Florida, which gained only one additional seat for a total of 28 in the House of Representatives. DeSantis argues that an undercount of almost 3.5% missed around 761,000 residents. However, experts say the overcount and undercount numbers can’t change congressional seat allocation. The U.S. Constitution requires an actual count for apportionment. Experts say Florida may have itself to blame for the undercount, since it provided fewer resources for census participation than other states.

A police officer urges Art Sennholtz, 80, center, and Christy Howard, 70, of Just Us Volusia to be careful of fast-moving traffic as they hold protest signs outside the entrance to an immigration detention center in the Florida Everglades known as "Alligator Alcatraz," Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025, in Collier County, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

First hearing held on detainees’ legal rights at ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ after judge orders wind down

September 3, 2025

Attorneys are fighting for the legal rights of detainees at an immigration detention center in the Florida Everglades. They were meeting with state and federal government defendants in court on Thursday. This is the first meeting since a federal judge in a separate environmental lawsuit ordered operations at the facility, known as “Alligator Alcatraz,” to wind down. The legal rights lawsuit claims detainees have been denied the right to meet privately with their attorneys. The facility, built in the Everglades, was intended to aid deportation efforts. The state and federal governments have appealed the judge’s ruling and asked that it be put on hold.

President Donald Trump listens during a meeting with Polish President Karol Nawrocki in the Oval Office of the White House, Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Trump asks Supreme Court to quickly take up tariffs case and reverse ruling finding them illegal

September 3, 2025

The Trump administration is taking the fight over tariffs to the Supreme Court, asking the justices to rule quickly that the president has the power to impose sweeping import taxes under federal law. In an appeal filed late Wednesday, the government called on the court to reverse an appeals court ruling that most of President Donald Trump’s tariffs were illegal under an emergency powers law. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit left the tariffs in place for now. The administration nevertheless called on the high court to intervene quickly, arguing the ruling is harming trade negotiations and international relations.

The Rose Garden of The White House is seen from the Colonnade Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

Trump to host top tech CEOs — except Musk — at White House dinner Thursday

September 3, 2025

President Donald Trump will host a high-powered list of tech CEOs for a dinner at the White House on Thursday night. The guest list is set to include Microsoft cofounder Bill Gates, Apple CEO Tim Cook, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and a dozen other executives from the biggest artificial intelligence and tech firms, according to the White House. One notable absence from the guest list is Elon Musk, once a close ally of Trump, whom the president tasked with running the government-slashing Department of Government Efficiency. Musk had a public break with Trump earlier this year.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, center, tours "Camp 57," a facility to house immigration detainees at the Louisiana State Penitentiary in Angola, La., Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert, Pool)

A notorious Louisiana prison was chosen for immigrant detainees to urge self-deportation, Noem says

September 3, 2025

Federal authorities say they’ve deliberately chosen a notorious Louisiana prison to hold immigration detainees as a way to encourage people living illegally in the U.S. to self-deport. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem made the announcement Wednesday. A complex inside the Louisiana State Penitentiary, better known as Angola, will be used to for what Noem said would be some of the “worst of the worst” ICE detainees. Many of Angola’s 6,300 prisoners still work surrounding fields on the penitentiary grounds, picking vegetables by hand under the watch of armed guards on horseback.

DC National Guard troops have orders extended through December, official says

September 3, 2025

District of Columbia National Guard troops who are deployed as part of President Donald Trump’s federal law enforcement intervention in the nation’s capital have had their orders extended through December. That’s according to a National Guard official who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to the media. The official says the main purpose of the extension is to ensure that any D.C. Guard members out on the streets of Washington will continue to have uninterrupted benefits and pay. The official says that while the extension doesn’t mean that all 950 D.C. Guard troops now deployed will serve until the end of December, it’s a strong indication that their role isn’t winding down anytime soon.

FILE - Oakland Ballers players stand during the national anthem before a Pioneer League baseball game against the Rocky Mountain Vibes in Oakland, Calif., July 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu, File)

Oakland Ballers to use artificial intelligence to manage Saturday home game against Great Falls

September 3, 2025

The playoff-bound Oakland Ballers of the independent Pioneer League are turning to artificial intelligence to manage all aspects of Saturday’s home game against the Great Falls Voyagers at Raimondi Park. So it might be almost like a day off for manager Aaron Miles, whose lineup and in-game decisions will even be made for him. The starting pitcher is already set. He will leave it to AI to decide when to pinch hit or replace his pitcher.

FILE - Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., speaks during a news conference at the Capitol, April 1, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr., File)

Democratic senator says classified meeting with intel agency is canceled after Loomer’s criticism

September 3, 2025

The top ranking Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee says a classified meeting planned with a key U.S. spy agency was called off after it was criticized by Laura Loomer, a far-right conspiracy theorist. Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia said he believes the Pentagon canceled his visit to the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency following social media posts from Loomer. She had criticized Warner and the agency’s director, Vice Adm. Frank Whitworth. Warner says he’s had more than a dozen similar meetings with the NGA and other spy agencies under Republican and Democratic presidencies. Loomer has claimed credit for a number of high-level administration departures.

Paul Colford, longtime journalist and author who became top AP spokesman, dies at 71

September 3, 2025

Paul Colford, an inexhaustibly curious journalist and author who covered the media business for decades before becoming The Associated Press’ chief spokesperson, has died. He was 71. Colford, who retired from the AP in 2017, died Aug. 26 after a fall the previous month turned a long struggle with Parkinson’s disease into a rapid decline, said his wife, Anne LaBate. Despite his health problems, he was working even in recent months on his third book, about a notorious figure from his hometown of Jersey City, New Jersey. During a decade as AP’s director and ultimately vice president of media relations, Colford was known for his sage, unflappable handling of the news cooperative’s dealings with other media outlets.

Vice President JD Vance and his wife second lady Usha Vance, arrive to pay their respects to victims of the Annunciation Catholic Church shooting in Minneapolis, Minn., Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025. (Alex Wroblewski/ Pool via AP)

VP Vance says meeting with families of victims from Minneapolis church shooting affected him deeply

September 3, 2025

Vice President JD Vance has visited Minneapolis to meet with families affected by a deadly church shooting. Vance’s visit Wednesday came a week after the attack at Annunciation Catholic Church that left two schoolchildren dead and 21 people injured. Vance and second lady Usha Vance laid bouquets at a memorial outside the church. Vance also visited a hospital where the parents of one wounded child made a heartfelt plea for the vice president to use his position to find real solutions to the problem of gun violence. Vance later told reporters he would never forget this day.

FILE - Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa., speaks during the opening session of the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) Legislative Conference March 4, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr.)

Left and right are joining forces to ban lawmakers from trading stock

September 3, 2025

It’s an issue uniting the left and the right. Republican and Democratic lawmakers who agree on little else are rallying support for a bill that would prohibit members of Congress and their families from owning and trading stocks. Supporters of the bill include darlings of the far right, the left, moderates and many in between. Under the bill, lawmakers who currently own individual stocks and bonds would have 180 days to divest their stock. New members would have 90 days to divest upon taking office. The plan seems to have momentum in the House, but may face a more difficult climb in the Senate.

FILE - Patrick Hemingway, son of famed author Ernest Hemingway, stands for a photo in Tanzania on Feb. 28, 1969. (AP Photo/Nair, File)

Patrick Hemingway, Ernest Hemingway’s last surviving child, dies at 97

September 3, 2025

Patrick Hemingway, the last surviving child of Ernest Hemingway who in emulation of his father lived for years in Africa and later oversaw numerous posthumous works by the Nobel laureate, has died. He was 97. As an executor of his father’s estate, he approved reissues of such classics as “A Farewell to Arms” and “A Moveable Feast,” featuring revised texts and additional commentary from Patrick Hemingway and others. While brother Gregory Hemingway had a deeply troubled relationship with his famous father, Patrick Hemingway spoke proudly of his heritage and welcomed the chance to bring up the family name.

FILE - Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., joined at left by Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., the GOP whip, speaks to reporters following closed-door strategy meetings, at the Capitol in Washington, July 22, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)

Republicans are preparing to change Senate rules to speed Trump’s nominees

September 3, 2025

Republican senators say they are prepared to change the chamber’s rules to get around the Democratic blockade of President Donald Trump’s nominees, discussing a proposal to make it easier to confirm multiple nominees at once. Republicans have been talking about various options for changing the rules since early August, when the Senate left for a monthlong recess after a breakdown in bipartisan negotiations over the confirmation process. Democrats have blocked nearly every single one of Trump’s nominees, forcing majority Republicans to spend valuable floor time on procedural votes and leaving many positions in the executive branch unfilled.

FILE - Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., asks a question during a Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee hearing, June 18, 2025, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib, File)

GOP Sen. Cassidy, facing primary challengers, proceeds cautiously on CDC and Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

September 3, 2025

Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy’s support was crucial to Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s confirmation as Health and Human Services secretary. With firings and resignations at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now prompting concern about a leadership breakdown at the nation’s leading public health agency, the Louisiana lawmaker and physician is in a tight spot. The two-term senator has worried aloud about “serious allegations” at the CDC and has called for oversight, without blaming Kennedy. The tension underscores competing pressures: A senator with oversight responsibility for a massive federal agency and a Republican seeking reelection next year. Cassidy, who voted to convict Donald Trump after his 2021 impeachment trial, already has a cool relationship with the president.

President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with Polish President Karol Nawrocki in the Oval Office of the White House, Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Trump extends his reach into Congress in ways large and small

September 3, 2025

As Congress returns for a busy fall stretch, President Donald Trump is reaching into the affairs of the legislative branch, chiseling away at the separation of powers. Trump is pushing Congress to drop its probe into the Jeffrey Epstein files, saying, “It’s enough.” He has renamed his big bill, unleashed federal law enforcement in Washington, D.C., and utilized a highly rare tool to claw back federal funds Congress had already approved, courting a potential federal government shutdown Sept. 30. Republicans who have the majority in Congress have shown they are eager to follow the White House’s lead.

FILE - DeAsia Harmon speaks at the funeral for her husband D'Vontaye Mitchell, July 11, 2024, in Milwaukee. Mitchell died June 30 after an incident at a hotel. (AP Photo/Morry Gash, file)

4 former Milwaukee hotel workers get probation and time served in dogpile death

September 3, 2025

A judge has sentenced four former Milwaukee hotel workers charged with killing a man by piling on top of him to a mix of probation and time already served, allowing them to avoid spending any more time behind bars. Judge David Swanson handed down the sentences for former Hyatt Hotel security guards Todd Erickson and Brandon Turner, bellhop Herbert Williamson and front desk worker Devin Johnson-Carson on Wednesday. All four were initially charged with being party to felony murder in D’Vontaye Mitchell’s June 2024 death. The workers piled on Mitchell after he ran into the women’s bathroom in the Hyatt lobby. When emergency responders arrived, Mitchell wasn’t breathing.

FILE - This photo combination shows, from left, Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek, Jan. 31, 2024, in Salem, Ore., Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson, Jan. 27, 2025, in Seattle and California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Aug. 21, 2025, in Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane, Lindsey Wasson, Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Washington, Oregon and California governors form alliance in rebuke of Trump administration

September 3, 2025

The Democratic governors of Washington, Oregon and California have created an alliance to safeguard health policies, believing the Trump administration is putting Americans’ health and safety at risk by politicizing the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The move announced Wednesday comes with COVID-19 cases rising in the U.S. and as Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. restructures and downsizes the CDC and attempts to advance anti-vaccine policies that are contradicted by decades of scientific research. Concerns about staffing and budget cuts were heightened after the White House sought to oust the agency’s director and some top CDC leaders resigned in protest.

After recovering from health problems a 230 pound loggerhead turtle named June Cleaver is released in the Atlantic Ocean by the Brevard Zoo's Turtle Healing Center Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025, in Melbourne, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

June Cleaver the loggerhead turtle is released into the ocean off Florida after rehab

September 3, 2025

Marine biologists on Florida’s Space Coast have released June Cleaver, a 230-pound loggerhead turtle, back into the ocean. The release took place Wednesday in front of 300 beachgoers after the sea creature’s two-month rehabilitation at the Brevard Zoo’s Sea Turtle Healing Center. June Cleaver was first observed in June having difficulty laying eggs at Melbourne Beach. The Sea Turtle Preservation Society transported her to the center, where caretakers discovered she had been hit by a boat. While at the center, the turtle laid 113 eggs in a pool. Biologists buried the eggs at the beach, where they are incubating.

FILE - Rep. LaMonica McIver, D-N.J., demands the release of Newark Mayor Ras Baraka after his arrest while protesting outside Delaney Hall ICE detention facility, Friday, May 9, 2025, in Newark, N.J. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis, File)

House rejects effort to censure New Jersey congresswoman over actions at detention center

September 3, 2025

The House has rejected a resolution to censure Democratic Rep. LaMonica McIver of New Jersey. Republicans sought to censure McIver and remove her from a committee as she faces federal charges stemming from a visit to an immigration detention facility in May. But the House voted 215-207 on Wednesday to table the measure. The censure resolution recounted how McIver is alleged to have interfered with Homeland Security Investigations officials from making an arrest of an unauthorized visitor. McIver has pleaded not guilty to the charges. A trial in her case has been scheduled for November.

The ‘Superman’ sequel, ‘Man of Tomorrow,’ will arrive summer 2027

September 3, 2025

Up, up and away! A “Superman” sequel is in the works. Writer-director James Gunn, who now presides over DC Studios with producer Peter Safran, shared on Instagram Wednesday afternoon that a new film will arrive in theaters July 9, 2027. It is titled “Man of Tomorrow.” “Superman,” released on July 11, has also been a commercial success. After eight weeks in theaters, “Superman” has earned approximately $352 million at the box office, according to ComScore. “Superman” is Gunn and Safran’s first release since they were handed the keys to DC’s superhero cinematic universe.

FILE - ConocoPhillips Chairman & CEO Ryan Lance speaks at the annual IHS CERAWeek global energy conference, Feb. 23, 2016, in Houston. (AP Photo/Pat Sullivan, file)

ConocoPhillips says it will lay off up to 25% of its workforce, impacting thousands of jobs

September 3, 2025

Oil giant ConocoPhillips is planning to lay off up to a quarter of its workforce, amounting to thousands of jobs, as part of broader efforts from the company to cut costs. A spokesperson for ConocoPhillips confirmed the layoffs on Wednesday, noting that 20% to 25% of the company’s employees and contractors would be impacted worldwide. ConocoPhillips currently has a global headcount of about 13,000 — meaning that the cuts would impact between 2,600 and 3,250 workers. The majority of these cuts are expected to take place before the end of the year. ConocoPhillips’ shares fell 4.3% on Wednesday.

FILE - A Chicago Transit Authority train pulls into the Damen Ave. station on Aug. 12, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast, File)

US appeals court reverses lower court, approves Illinois ban on carrying firearms on public transit

September 3, 2025

A federal appeals court has approved Illinois’ ban on carrying firearms on public transit, reversing a lower court decision that found the prohibition violated the Second Amendment. The 7th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals delivered its opinion on Tuesday. Judge Joshua Kolar wrote in the majority opinion that the Illinois restriction follows “a centuries-old practice of limiting firearms” in confined or crowded conditions. That ruling overturned one from a U.S. District Court in 2024 that relied on a U.S. Supreme Court opinion that restrictions on public weapons must be consistent with those imposed when the Second Amendment was written.

FILE - E. Jean Carroll exits the New York Federal Court after former President Donald Trump appeared in court, Sept. 6, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Eduardo Munoz Alvarez, File)

Trump plans to ask Supreme Court to toss E. Jean Carroll’s $5 million abuse and defamation verdict

September 3, 2025

President Donald Trump will soon ask the Supreme Court to throw out a jury’s finding in a civil lawsuit that found that he sexually abused writer E. Jean Carroll at a Manhattan department store in the mid-1990s and later defamed her. Trump’s lawyers previewed the move in paperwork asking the high court to extend its deadline for challenging the $5 million verdict from Sept. 10 to Nov. 11. Trump “intends to seek review” of “significant issues” arising from the trial and the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals’ subsequent decisions upholding the abuse and defamation verdict. Trump has denied Carroll’s allegations.

This image released by the U.S. Geological Survey shows the erupting Halemaʻumaʻu crater from the rim of the Kilauea caldera at the summit of the Kīlauea volcano on Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025, in Hawaii. (C. Cauley/U.S. Geological Survey via AP)

Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano erupts with lava pouring out from multiple vents

September 2, 2025

Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano has resumed erupting and is firing lava high into the sky from its summit crater. It’s the 32nd time the volcano has released molten rock since December, when its current eruption began. So far, all the lava from this eruption has been contained within the summit crater inside Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Lava emerged from the north vent in Halemaumau Crater after midnight. The U.S. Geological Survey says the vent began shooting fountains of lava at 6:35 a.m. By mid-morning, it was also erupting from the south vent and a third vent in between. Kilauea is one of the world’s most active volcanoes.

President Donald Trump speaks about the relocation of U.S. Space Command headquarters from Colorado to Alabama in the Oval Office of the White House, Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

New Polish president who was endorsed by Trump is making his first White House visit

September 2, 2025

Newly inaugurated Polish President Karol Nawrocki is set to visit the White House just months after President Donald Trump took the unusual step of weighing into Poland’s election and endorsing the nationalist politician. With Wednesday’s visit, Nawrocki is looking to strengthen his relationship with Trump and make the case that the U.S. needs to maintain its strong military presence in his country. Some key advisers in the Republican administration have advocated for shifting U.S. troops and military from Europe to the Indo-Pacific with China’s lock as the United States’ most significant strategic and economic competitor. Roughly 10,000 American troops are stationed in Poland on a rotational basis.

Students without legal status are dropping out or delaying college as states revoke tuition breaks

September 2, 2025

Across the country, tens of thousands of college students without legal status are losing access to in-state tuition as part of an immigration crackdown carried out by President Donald Trump and his allies. In Florida, state lawmakers revoked a 2014 law that let residents who are in the country illegally qualify for in-state tuition at public colleges and universities. A Texas law gave college students without legal residency access to in-state tuition for decades before a federal judge blocked it. The Justice Department has been suing states to end tuition breaks, starting with Texas in June, followed by Kentucky, Minnesota and Oklahoma.

Families of Boeing crash victims to make potential final plea for criminal prosecution

September 2, 2025

A hearing in Texas could be the final chance for families of Boeing 737 Max crash victims to demand criminal prosecution of the company. U.S. District Chief Judge Reed O’Connor is set to hear arguments Wednesday in Fort Worth on a motion to dismiss a felony fraud charge against Boeing. The charge relates to crashes in Indonesia and Ethiopia that have killed 346 people. Prosecutors claim Boeing deceived regulators about a flight-control system implicated in the crashes. The Justice Department initially settled with Boeing for $2.5 billion, but revived the charge last year. Families hope for more severe punishment and prosecution of former executives.

Cardi B wins case filed by security guard who claimed rapper assaulted her

September 2, 2025

A jury has ruled in favor of Cardi B in a lawsuit where a security guard accused her of assault during the rapper’s first pregnancy. On Tuesday, the jury in Alhambra, California, deliberated for about an hour before finding Cardi not liable. Emani Ellis claimed Cardi cut her face with a fingernail and spat on her in a Beverly Hills doctor’s office in February 2018. Cardi admitted they argued but denied it turned physical. Ellis sought damages for medical expenses and emotional suffering. A receptionist supported Cardi’s account, and the jury sided with the rapper.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz speaks outside the Annunciation Catholic School following a shooting Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2025, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)

Gov. Tim Walz to call special session on gun laws after Minneapolis school shooting

September 2, 2025

Governor Tim Walz plans to call a special session of the Minnesota Legislature to consider tougher gun laws after last week’s shooting at a Catholic school in Minneapolis. The shooting left two children dead and 21 people injured. Walz said Tuesday he intends to propose a comprehensive package, possibly including an assault weapons ban. However, passing new restrictions may be challenging in the closely divided Legislature. GOP leaders have criticized Walz for not consulting them. They suggest expanding school security funding and mental health resources instead. Walz says his proposals will protect students without infringing on Second Amendment rights.

FILE - This image from police body camera footage provided by the Mesa County Sheriff's Office shows sheriff's Deputy Alexander Zwinck conducting a traffic stop on June 5, 2025, near Fruta, Colorado. (Mesa County Sherrif's Office via AP, File)

Colorado sheriff’s deputy disciplined for helping immigration agents resigns, ending lawsuit

September 2, 2025

A Colorado sheriff’s deputy disciplined for helping federal immigration agents make arrests has resigned. The deputy’s departure has prompted the state’s attorney general to drop a lawsuit accusing him of illegally sharing information with immigration agents. The Mesa County Sheriff’s Office said Tuesday that deputy Alexander Zwinck no longer works for the office. Zwinck recently said in court filings that he planned to resign, and a judge agreed to dismiss Attorney General Phil Weiser’s lawsuit against Zwinck late last week. Zwinck has denied intentionally violating state law that bars state employees from sharing identifying information about people with federal immigration officials.

More rebukes for prosecutors: Grand jurors refuse to indict 2 people accused of threatening Trump

September 2, 2025

Federal grand jurors in the nation’s capital have refused to indict two people who were charged separately with threatening to kill President Donald Trump. It’s more evidence of a growing backlash against Trump’s law enforcement intervention in Washington, D.C. It is rare for a grand jury to balk at returning an indictment, but it has happened at least seven times in five cases since Trump last month ordered a surge in patrols by federal agents and troops in the District of Columbia. Two of the cases involved threats against Trump.

A makeshift memorial for 11-year-old Julian Guzman, who was shot and killed during a doorbell prank, is shown Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Houston man charged with murder in shooting of 11-year-old boy after door knocking prank

September 2, 2025

Police say a Houston man has been charged with murder in the fatal shooting of an 11-year-old boy after a prank in which the child knocked on the door of a home and ran away. Authorities say 42-year-old Gonzalo Leon Jr. was taken into custody and booked into the Harris County Jail in Houston early Tuesday. Court records did not list an attorney for Leon who could comment. A cousin told investigators that they knocked on Leon’s door as a prank Saturday night. Commonly referred to as “ding dong ditching,” the prank involves fleeing before someone inside the home opens the door.

Assamese dancers in traditional attire perform as they attempt Guinness World Record in the largest folk dance performance category in Guwahati, India, Friday, April 14, 2023. Around 11,000 Bihu dancers and musicians performed together to set a new record for Guinness World Record in the largest folk dance performance category today. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)

Ever dream of having an entry in the Guinness World Records? Here’s how to do it.

September 2, 2025

Guinness World Records is celebrating its 70th anniversary by inviting regular folks to attempt unique records. They’re offering unclaimed titles and an online quiz to match personalities with potential records. Options include most eggs stacked in a minute or farthest distance bottle flip. There’s also a list of 70 unclaimed titles, like fastest burrito-making or most anchovies eaten in a minute. Editor-in-Chief Craig Glenday believes everyone has something amazing to celebrate. The book, first published in 1955, has become an international phenomenon, selling 155 million copies. It embraces all kinds of achievements, as long as they’re meaningful and interesting.

FOX News reporter Peter Doocy shows President Donald Trump a photo on his phone during an event about the relocation of U.S. Space Command headquarters from Colorado to Alabama in the Oval Office of the White House, Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

Trump says video showing items thrown from White House is AI after his team indicates it’s real

September 2, 2025

President Donald Trump claims a video showing items being tossed from a White House window is fake and created with AI, though his press team earlier seemed to confirm the video’s authenticity. Trump said Tuesday that the windows are sealed and too heavy to open. The video, which circulated Monday, shows a small black bag and a long white item being thrown from a window. The White House told several news outlets that inquired about the video that it was a “contractor who was doing regular maintenance while the President was gone.” The White House has not addressed the discrepancy.

FILE - Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, speaks with reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington, July 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen, File)

GOP congresswoman joins 2026 Iowa Senate race after Sen. Joni Ernst confirms she won’t run

September 2, 2025

U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst is not seeking reelection next year. Ernst says she will retire after two terms in an announcement that followed months of speculation about her plans. Ernst’s departure opens up a Senate seat in the state known for its long-serving incumbents. It is another unexpected retirement for Senate Republicans as they work to maintain their majority in the chamber, and it could have ripple effects down the ballot. Ashley Hinson, the congresswoman representing northeastern Iowa, said in a same-day announcement that she is seeking the party’s nomination for Ernst’s seat. That could complicate Republicans’ efforts to maintain their majority in the other chamber.

Members of the District of Columbia National Guard patrol Union Station, Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib)

Signaling collaboration, DC mayor orders emergency operations center kept open to work with feds

September 2, 2025

In a nod to continuing collaboration, the mayor of Washington, D.C., issued an order to continue the work of an emergency operations center the city set up in response to the federal law enforcement surge ordered by President Donald Trump. The order from Mayor Muriel Bowser, who is walking a tightrope between portions of her constituency and her relationship with Trump’s White House, allows the center to continue managing the city’s response. The order said the so-called “Safe and Beautiful Emergency Operations Center (SBEOC)” will work with a number of federal agencies, including the FBI, the U.S. Park Police, the DEA, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Secret Service.

President Donald Trump speaks during an event about the relocation of U.S. Space Command headquarters from Colorado to Alabama in the Oval Office of the White House, Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

Trump addresses health rumors after days without public events

September 2, 2025

President Donald Trump is dismissing rumors about his health after speculation on social media because of a lack of public events over the last week. Trump was asked tongue-in-cheek about it Tuesday by Fox News reporter Peter Doocy, who wanted to know, “How did you find out over the weekend that you were dead?” Trump attributed the rumors to “fake news” and said he was “very active.” The 79-year-old president has been seen with bruising on his hand and swelling around his ankles. The White House says he has chronic venous insufficiency, a common condition in older adults, and bruising from frequent handshaking and aspirin use.

In this image released by the U.S. Geological Survey, the Kilauea volcano spews lava on Friday, Aug. 22, 2025, in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii. (M. Zoeller/U.S. Geological Survey via AP)

Kilauea’s on-and-off eruption is back on in Hawaii. What to know about its dramatic lava displays

September 2, 2025

Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano has been repeatedly disgorging lava at its summit crater about once a week since late last year. The firehose of molten rock delights residents, visitors and online viewers alike. On Tuesday, it began shooting lava into the air for the 32nd time since December. Scientists view each episode as part of the same eruption because magma has been following the same pathway to the surface. The lava is contained within the summit crater inside Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and isn’t threatening homes or buildings. Park visitors can see the eruption in person. Others can watch popular U.S. Geological Survey livestreams.

Reese Witherspoon’s new mission: How she plans to inspire young readers

September 2, 2025

Oscar-winning actor Reese Witherspoon is teaming up with Hachette Book Group for a literacy campaign. Starting this fall, new audiobooks from authors like Nathan Harris and Patricia Cornwell will include a message from Witherspoon. She urges parents to read to their children for at least 10 minutes a day, visit libraries and form book clubs. Witherspoon’s book club has boosted sales for such authors as R.F. Kuang and Ann Patchett. This initiative is part of Hachette’s “Raising Readers” campaign. Hachette CEO David Shelley says Witherspoon’s involvement is a tremendous asset.

FILE - Joan Rivers, Paloma Picasso and Vogue editor Anna Wintour attend a benefit dinner for the American Suicide Foundation at the Waldorf Astoria in New York on May 3, 1991. (AP Photo/Luiz Ribeiro, File)

Anna Wintour taps Chloe Malle as Vogue successor — but she’s still in charge

September 2, 2025

Anna Wintour has named Chloe Malle as her successor as head of editorial content at American Vogue, ending weeks of speculation. However, Wintour remains the chief content officer for parent company Condé Nast and global editorial director of Vogue’s nearly 30 editions around the world. The new appointee announced Tuesday will take over editorial and creative day-to-day operations at the U.S. edition of the magazine but will report to Wintour. Wintour’s title of editor-in-chief is being retired. She will continue to oversee various other brands as well and remain involved in major events like the Met Gala. Malle is the daughter of actor Candice Bergen and the late French director Louis Malle.

Children's book author Maurice Sendak appears at his home in Ridgefield, Conn., on Sept. 6 2011, left, and author Stephen King appears at the premiere of "The Life of Chuck" during the Toronto International Film Festival on Sept. 6, 2024. (AP Photo)

Stephen King reimagines ‘Hansel and Gretel’ with Maurice Sendak’s unpublished drawings

September 2, 2025

Stephen King has collaborated on a new project, a retelling of “Hansel and Gretel” using unpublished drawings by Maurice Sendak. The book, which comes out this week, was a healing project for King after a painful hip replacement. He says fairy tales are meant ‘to be scary’ and offer “children a taste of adult emotions” with a happy ending. King stayed true to the original story but added a dream sequence and removed a plot about a duck. He enjoyed the challenge of fitting his words to Sendak’s illustrations and is open to trying new projects in the future.

FILE - Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti speaks during a President Joe Biden campaign event in Scranton, Pa., April 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)

Pennsylvania Democrats attract some buzz in the party’s bid to take back the US House

September 2, 2025

Scranton, Pennsylvania, Mayor Paige Cognetti is announcing a bid for Congress. Tuesday’s news adds another Democrat to 2026’s midterm election lineup in a state that’s key to next year’s congressional elections. Democrats are hoping to retake the majority in the U.S. House. Cognetti is viewed as the best candidate to try to unseat freshman Rep. Rob Bresnahan. Cognetti’s candidacy is the second big get for Democrats in one week. Last week, the head of Pennsylvania’s state firefighters’ union, Bob Brooks, declared his candidacy to challenge freshman Republican Rep. Ryan Mackenzie. That Allentown-area district already has five Democrats in the running. Brooks has support from Gov. Josh Shapiro.

national.

Finance.